IIT-B student dies by suicide hours after being found with phone in exam hall; 400 students protest

On Friday, 19-year-old second-year student from IIT Bombay's Department of Energy Science and Engineering took his own life, hours after being discovered using a mobile phone in an examination hall. This act triggered a protest by over 400 students on campus, leading to the postponement of ongoing mid-semester exams.

The student was allegedly found with a phone in the exam hall, which is strictly prohibited. According to an official statement from the institute, he had uploaded the question paper onto ChatGPT in an attempt to find answers. Despite this, no disciplinary action was taken against him. The incident was discussed with the student by the instructor and Head of the Department, who assured him that it would not impact his academic career. He returned to his hostel room later in the day.

Tragically, in the evening, the student was found hanging in his hostel room, leading to his death by suicide. Police from the Powai police station are conducting an investigation, and the body has been sent to Rajawadi Hospital for a post-mortem examination.

The news of the student's death caused a tense atmosphere on campus, with more than 400 students gathering near the main building. They raised slogans against the administration, expressing their discontent. The situation was diffused when the institute's Director, Prof Shireesh Kedare, met with the students around 10:30 pm. The protest was then moved to the convocation hall, which is located opposite the main building.

The students' protest was successful in postponing the mid-semester examination. In a statement, IIT Bombay expressed deep sorrow over the loss of a student, assuring support to the student's friends, classmates, faculty members, and others affected by this tragic incident. Authorities are currently investigating the circumstances surrounding the student's death.